The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:3 Explained

2 Samuel 3:3

KJV: And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

YLT: and his second is Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third is Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,

Darby: and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

ASV: and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And his second,  Chileab,  of Abigail  the wife  of Nabal  the Carmelite;  and the third,  Absalom  the son  of Maacah  the daughter  of Talmai  king  of Geshur; 

What does 2 Samuel 3:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2Samuel 3:1-11 - A Split In The Enemy's Ranks
Abner's career reveals the principles on which ambitious men build their lives. He was, according to David's estimate, a great man and a prince, but his soul was eager for his own advancement. "He made himself strong in the house of Saul," 2 Samuel 3:6, r.v. He knew that David was God's appointed king and that through him the divine purpose would move, 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 3:18; but yet, because it seemed likely to insure his own advancement, he set Ish-bosheth on the throne. It was a deliberate attempt to thwart God's will, and it failed miserably. "Woe to him that striveth with his Maker!"
Ish-bosheth was a poor weak soul, a mere puppet king, who was set on the throne because he was likely to be pliant in the hands of his great general. Yet even he was aroused to protest when Abner threatened to desert him. And so the alliance between ambition and weakness was broken and the way was made for David to come to the throne of all Israel. In the meantime he ruled at Hebron, waiting, as our Lord waits at the Father's right hand, till His enemies should be made His footstool, Acts 2:34-35. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2Samuel 3

1  During the war David becomes stronger
2  Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6  Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7  revolts to David
13  David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17  Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22  Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28  David curses Joab
31  and mourns for Abner

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 3:3 mean?

and his second Chileab Abigail by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite and the third Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur
וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב [לאביגל] (לַאֲ‍ֽבִיגַ֕יִל) אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־ מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־ תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר

וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ  and  his  second 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁנֶה  
Sense: double, copy, second, repetition.
כִלְאָ֔ב  Chileab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּלְאָב  
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail.
[לאביגל]  Abigail 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
(לַאֲ‍ֽבִיגַ֕יִל)  by  Abigail 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲבִיגַיִל  
Sense: wife of Nabal, then of David.
אֵ֖שֶׁת  the  widow 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
נָבָ֣ל  of  Nabal 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: a man of Carmel who spurned David’s messengers, then died of shock when he realised it might cause his death; his case was pleaded by his wife Abigail who became David’s wife after his death.
הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י  the  Carmelite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כַּרְמְלִי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Carmel.
וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙  and  the  third 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
בֶּֽן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מַעֲכָ֔ה  of  Maacah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַעֲכָה 
Sense: father of Achish, king of Gath at the beginning of Solomon’s reign.
בַּת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
תַּלְמַ֖י  of  Talmai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: תַּלְמַי  
Sense: one of the 3 sons of the giant Anak who were slain by the men of Judah.
מֶ֥לֶךְ  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
גְּשֽׁוּר  of  Geshur 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּשׁוּר  
Sense: a people.